Effective Strategies to Safeguard Yourself from Rising RCS Spam Messages

Guarding Against RCS Spam: Your Comprehensive Guide

The evolution of communication has ushered in the Rich Communication Services (RCS) protocol, elevating our messaging experiences beyond traditional SMS and MMS. With enhanced features such as read receipts, rich media sharing, and expansive character limits, RCS has significantly improved connectivity. However, it has also opened the floodgates for spam, making it crucial for users to understand RCS spam and how to protect themselves.

Understanding the Surge of RCS Spam

The momentum behind RCS was propelled by Google’s decision to integrate it as the default messaging service on Android devices in 2019. This move not only expanded RCS’s reach but also prompted competitors like Apple to embrace RCS in their iOS 18+ ecosystem. The implication? A rapidly growing user base anticipated to exceed 1.5 billion by 2025, with predictions indicating this number could double by 2028.

Simultaneously, the launch of RCS Business Messaging (RBM) allowed businesses to relay rich interactive messages, thereby attracting a diverse array of companies eager to engage consumers through appointment reminders, customer support, or unconventional advertisements. Unfortunately, the accessibility of RCS on various platforms and the association with minimal sending fees enables spammers to infiltrate users’ inboxes easily.

Until defensive measures from carriers and Google evolve, RCS users could find themselves overwhelmed by unsolicited communications.

Activating Spam Protection in Google Messages

Unlocking the built-in spam filter in Google Messages is your frontline defense against unwanted communications. Leveraging advanced blocklists, sender verifications, and on-device AI, this functionality is powerfully designed to intercept phishing attempts, excessive promotional content, and fraudulent schemes.

While the spam filter utilizes anonymous data from your messages, taking advantage of this feature significantly enhances your safety. Here’s a brief guide on enabling spam protection:

Tap your profile picture located in the top-right corner.
Select Messages settings.
Go to General > Protection & Safety.
Toggle on Enable spam protection.

Enabling spam protection in Google Messages

Blocking and Reporting Spam Messages

Utilizing the block and report function in Google Messages not only clears messages from your view but also assists Google in refining its spam detection algorithms. The more users report spam, the more effective the spam defenses become for everyone.

Here’s how to efficiently report spam messages:

Open the message from the undesired sender.
Tap on the three dots menu in the top-right corner.
Select Block & report spam.
In the pop-up, ensure Report spam is selected and then confirm by tapping Yes.

reporting a spam message on Google Messages

Turning Off Read Receipts

Read receipts are a beloved component of the RCS protocol, but they can inadvertently aid spammers. By confirming message reads, businesses can bombard you with further messages based on your engagement. Disabling this feature could reduce spam, although it will also prevent you from seeing when your messages have been read.

Here’s how to turn off read receipts:

Open Messages settings.
Navigate to the Chat features section.
Toggle off the option marked Send read receipts.

Disabling read receipt in Google Messages

Disabling RCS Chat

If you primarily use third-party messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram, catering to RCS chat may not be necessary. Disabling RCS can significantly reduce exposure to spam while still allowing SMS communication. Notably, other RCS users will default to MMS/SMS when engaging with you.

To disable RCS chat:

Open Messages settings.
Go to General > RCS Chats.
Toggle off Turn on RCS chats.
Confirm by selecting Turn Off.

While the simplicity and connectivity of RCS are appealing—especially as it comes standard on Android and iOS—it’s essential to take proactive measures to maintain a clutter-free inbox. Should you choose to move away from RCS, consider exploring alternative messaging apps that prioritize privacy and security in communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is RCS spam and how does it differ from traditional spam?

RCS spam refers to unsolicited messages sent through the Rich Communication Services protocol, offering enhanced interactivity and rich media compared to traditional SMS spam, which is limited to simple text. This change has made it easier for businesses and spammers to engage users more effectively.

2. Is enabling spam protection in Google Messages enough to stop RCS spam?

While enabling spam protection significantly reduces unwanted messages, it may not entirely eliminate RCS spam. Users should combine this measure with actively reporting spam and considering additional privacy settings to enhance their protection.

3. Will disabling RCS chat stop all spam messages?

Disabling RCS chat will prevent RCS spam messages from reaching you, but you will still receive SMS messages. Most businesses will switch to using SMS automatically if they cannot send RCS messages, ensuring you don’t miss critical communications.

Source & Images